Prototyping means being able to render ideas in order to better understand them. We’ve discovered some common traps design teams fall into with their prototyping efforts. In today’s UIEtips, we’re reprinting an article about the five prevalent pitfalls we’ve seen over the years.

While you consider the prototypes your team creates, and how to avoid these pitfalls, you’ll want to be sure you have the right fidelity for the research you’re conducting. Next week, Carolyn Snyder returns to the virtual seminar program to present Prototypes: Choosing the “Right” Fidelity for Your Research. Carolyn will show you which project variables to consider when choosing what to test in the first place, and then how to create an effective prototype that minimizes work and maximizes learning. Learn more about Carolyn’s seminar here.

Here’s an excerpt from the article:

A great prototype can sell an idea better than a specification or other form of describing the design. Seeing the design in action and playing with it brings the underlying ideas to life.

It’s no wonder that we focus so much on what the prototype will look like and how it will work. We want to achieve that wow factor with the key decision makers and stakeholders on the project.

As important as the working prototype is, it’s not the most important outcome of a prototyping effort. What’s more imporant is what the team learns from the prototyping process.